Suction cleaner brush roll assembly

ABSTRACT

A brush roll assembly for mounting in the air inlet passage of a suction cleaner is disclosed, wherein a pair of elongated brush strips are removably mounted in generally longitudinally extending grooves in the roll body. Each brush strip has a detent at one end thereof, which engages a retaining surface on the interior of a cavity in a drive pulley secured to the roll body. The detent is carried on the end of a resilient arm, and the arm is inwardly deflectable to disengage the detent from the retaining surface so that the brush strip can be shifted out of the groove. A multi-part construction is utilized in the drive pulley to facilitate assembly thereof on the roll body, and the roll body is helically shaped to reduce the effective profile area of the brush roll assembly.

United States Patent [151 3,683,444 Schaefer et al. [451 Aug. 15, 1972 SUCTION CLEANER BRUSH ROLL 2,271,553 2/1942 Smellie ..l5/182 ASSEMBLY 3,139,641 7/1964 Grogan et a1. 15/1 82 [72] Inventors: Harold W. Schaefer, Bloomington;

William a. Penn, Normal, both of f'"" f L Attorney-Hrbben, Noyes & Bicknell [73] Assignee: National Union Electric Corpora- 57 ABSTRACT tion, Stamford, Conn. A brush roll assembly for mounting in the air inlet Flledi March 1971 passage of a suction cleaner is disclosed, wherein a [2] App| 128,869 pair of elongated brush strips are removably mounted in generally longitudinally extending grooves in the roll body. Each brush strip has a detent at one end ilf-il thereof which engages a retaining Surface on the I} terior of a cavity in a drive pulley secured to h roll [58] new of Search 9 body. The detent is carried on the end of a resilient 15,366 300/21 29/127 128 arm, and the arm is inwardly deflectable to disengage 56 R f ed the detent from the retaining surface so that the brush 1 e erences It strip can be shifted out of the groove. A multi-part UNTED STATES PATENTS construction is utilized in the drive pulley to facilitate assembly thereof on the roll body, and the roll body 15 1,370,256 3/1921 Adams ..15/ 182 X helically Shaped to reduce the effective profile area f 1,907,642. 5/1933 Demaree 15/ 182 UX the brush to assembly 1,991,975 2/1935 Carlson ..l5/183 2,268,404 12/1941 Kitto 15/ 183 23 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB l 5 I972 3 683 ,444

sum 3 or 3 1 SUCTION CLEANER BRUSH ROLL ASSEMBLY This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly relates to an improved brush roll assembly for mounting in the suction inlet of such a cleaner.

Various types of rotatable agitators or brush rolls have been suggested or used heretofore which provide for periodic replacement of the brush elements thereof to extend the useful life of the roll. While many of the brush rolls of this character have proved generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, others have not for various reasons such as complexity of construction and operation, high cost of manufacture, and unreliability of operation.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved brush roll assembly for a suction cleaner.

Another object is to provide a novel brush roll assembly of the foregoing character, wherein the brushes thereof may be easily and rapidly replaced without the use of special tools or fixtures.

A further object is to provide a novel brush roll as sembly, wherein the roll body thereof is a one-piece extrusion.

Still another object is to provide a novel brush roll assembly of the foregoing character, wherein the roll body is helical in form to reduce the effective profile area of the roll assembly.

A further object is to provide a novel brush roll assembly of the character described, wherein a novel multi-part construction is utilized in the drive pulley thereof to facilitate assembly of the pulley on the roll body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a suction cleaner having a brush roll assembly embodying the features of the present invention mounted in the suction nozzle thereof;

FIG. 2 is afragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken, plan view, partly in section and with the central portion thereof rotated about its longitudinal axis to show additional details, of the brush roll assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, rotated, cross sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the pulley utilized in the brush roll assembly shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are broken, plan and side elevational views, respectively, of one of the removable brush strips used in the brush roll assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the brush roll shown in FIG. 5 and showing the structure at one end of one of the removable brush strips in the position it would occupy during installation or removal of the brush strip from the roll;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, plan view of the central portion of another brush roll assembly embodying the features of the present invention and showing an alternate pulley construction mounted on the roll body thereof;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, rotated, cross sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 12-l2 of FIG. 1 1; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the pulley shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a brush roll assembly 10 embodying the features of the present invention is shown mounted in the nozzle portion 11 of a suction cleaner base or body 12. The cleaner body 12, in the present instance, is of the type employed in the so-called upright type cleaners and is conventional to the extent that it includes a plurality of wheels 13 on the underside thereof to facilitate movement of the cleaner over a surface to be cleaned, and a pivotally mounted handle (not shown) for manipulating the cleaner. A motor driven fan 16 is centrally positioned n the cleaner body 12 and is enclosed in a chamber 17 which communicates with a filter bag (not shown) carried on the handle of the cleaner. When the cleaner is in operation, the fan 16 serves to induce a flow of air through an elongated inlet opening 19 in a removable cover 20 engaging the underside of the nozzle portion 11, such flow proceeding through a chamber 21 in the nozzle portion 11, and thence through the cleaner body 12 to the filter bag.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, inclusive, the brush roll assembly 10 comprises an elongated roll body member 22, which is preferably generally rectangular or oblong in cross section and twisted about its longitudinal axis so as to be helical in fonn. To this end, the roll body member 22 may be of aluminum which is extruded to the illustrated helical shape as the material leaves the die. Such helical shape reduces the effective profile area of the roll body member 22 and consequently the extent to which the brush roll assembly 10 restricts the flow of air through the nozzle portion 11. In addition, the helical shape of the roll body member 22 tends to increase turbulence in the nozzle of the cleaner, which is advantageous.

During extrusion, the roll body member 22 is formed with at least one and preferably a pair of grooves or recesses 23 and 24 (FIG. 5) in the longitudinally extending side edges thereof. The grooves 23 and 24, in the present instance, are each divided into two parts by a drive pulley 25 secured to the body member 22 intermediate the ends thereof. The parts of the grooves 23 and 24 are adapted to receive a pair of beater elements 26 and 27 and a pair of brush members or strips 28 and 29, the beater elements and brush members being alternately arranged in the groove parts. The manner in which the beater elements 26 and 27 and brush members 28 and 29 are mounted in the grooves 23 and 24 in the roll body 22 will be described more fully hereinafter.

As heretofore mentioned, a drive pulley 25 is secured to the roll body member 22. The drive pulley 25, in the present instance, utilizes a multi-part construction and is preferably of a rigid plastic material such as Lexan. Thus, the pulley 25 is in two parts or halves 25a and 25b which are joined together along a diametrically extending common interface 30 after as sembly around a cylindrical mounting portion 31 (FIG. 3) on the roll body member 22. To this end, the pulley halves 25a and 25b have semicircular inner margins 32a and 32b (FIG. 6) which define a circular opening 32 in the pulley 25 of substantially the same diameter as the mounting portion 31 when the halves 25a and 25b are joined together. The pulley halves 25a and 2512 may be joined together in any convenient manner, preferably by sonic welding.

In order to prevent relative rotation between the roll body member 22 and pulley 25 after the halves 25a and 25b are secured together around the cylindrical portion 31, a recess 33 is provided in each axial end face of the pulley 25. Each recess 33 includes a portion 33a in the pulley half 25a and a portion 33b in the pulley half 25b. The recesses 33 are of substantially the same shape as the portions of the roll body member 22 adjacent the cylindrical mounting portion 31, i.e. generally rectangular.

Assembly of the pulley halves 25a and 25b around the cylindrical portion 31 is facilitated by at least one and preferably a plurality of guide portions on the pulley 25.. In the present instance, such guide portions comprise a pair of axially outwardly extending lugs 34 on each of the opposite axial end faces, indicated at 35 and 36 in FIG. 3, of the pulley 25. The lugs 34 are of sufficient axial length to extend into the adjacent ends of the grooves 23 and 24 when the pulley 25 is mounted on the roll body member 22. The transverse length of the lugs 34 is somewhat less than the width of the radially outer portions of the grooves 23 and 24. Thus, during assembly of the pulley halves 25a and 25b on the mounting portion 31, the lugs 34 coact with the adjacent walls of the grooves 23 and 24 to guide the pulley halves into engagement with the cylindrical portion 31 and the portions of the roll body member 22 adjacent the mounting portion 31 into the recesses 33.

The brush roll assembly is rotatably mounted in the nozzle portion 11 of the cleaner body 12 so as to extend lengthwise through the nozzle chamber 21. To this end, an elongated shaft 37 extends through an enlarged axial bore 38 in the interior of the roll body member 22 and is supported therein in bearings 39 mounted in the bore 38 at each end of the roll body member 22. A pair of end caps 40 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having outwardly projecting non-circular hubs or support portions 41 are non-rotatably secured to the opposite ends of the shaft 37 by threaded sleeves or bushings 42. The support portions 41 are adapted to be received in complementally shaped recesses at each end of the nozzle chamber 21, and spring clips 44 (FIG. 1), or some other suitable securing means, releasably secure the support portions 41 in their recesses and the brush roll assembly 10 in the chamber 21. Thus, the end caps 40 and shaft 37 are stationary when the brush roll assembly 10 is rotating.

Rotation of the brush roll assembly 10 in the chamber 21 is effected by a belt 53 which extends around the pulley 25 and another pulley 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2) secured to a shaft 56 which drives the fan 16. It will be understood that other drive arrangements could be used to rotate the brush roll assembly 10.

As previously mentioned, a pair of beater elements 26 and 27 and a pair of brush members or strips 28 and 29 are mounted in and retained by the grooves 23 and 24 in the roll body member 22. To this end, the bottoms, indicated at 62 in FIG. 4, of the grooves 23 and 24 are wider than the radially outer ends, indicated at 63, thereof, so that the side walls, indicated at 64, of the grooves are inclined toward each other. Thus, the grooves 23 and 24 are undercut or dove-tailed radially inwardly.

The beater elements 26 and 27 are preferably elongated strips of sheet metal, such as stainless steel or chrome plated cold rolled steel, which are V-shaped in cross section and twisted to the curvature of the grooves 23 and 24. The outer surfaces of the beaters 26 and 27 adjacent the longitudinal edges 66 thereof snugly engage the side walls 64 of the grooves so that the beater elements are securely retained in the grooves. However, if the beater elements 26 and 27 become nicked or worn or otherwise need to be replaced, they can be removed from the grooves 23 and 24 by sliding or shifting them endwise out of the grooves after the end caps 40 and a pair of retaining disks 67 having annular intumed mounting flanges 68 have been removed from the roll body member 22. New beater elements can then be shifted endwise into the grooves 23 and 24 and the brush roll assembly 10 reassembled.

Each of the brush members 28 and 29 comprises an elongated base portion or strip 70 of flexible material, such as a vinyl plastic, having substantially the same cross section as the grooves 23 and 24. Consequently, the strips 70 closely fit the grooves 23 and 24 but are slidable therein. A series of groups of bristles, preferably nylon, are provided at spaced intervals along the length of each strip 70 for sweeping across the surface being cleaned and dislodging embedded soil and dirt particles therefrom.

In order to prevent the axially outer ends of the brush members 28 and 29 from rubbing on the end caps 40 and to permit periodic removal and replacement of the brush members from the grooves 23 and 24, the brush roll assembly 10 includes releasable retaining means for restraining the brush members against axially outward movement in the grooves 23 and 24. Such releasable retaining means, in the present instance, comprises a retaining surface at the inner ends of the brush-receiving parts of the grooves 23 and 24, and a cooperating detent 72 at one end of the strip 70 of each of the brush members 28 and 29. Such retaining surfaces are preferably provided by the inner, radially extending surfaces, indicated at 73, of the lugs 34 which are carried on and comprise portions of the axial end walls of the pulley 25. Openings 76 are formed in the axial end walls of the pulley 25, which is hollow, to permit the detents 72 to extend into cavities 77 in the pulley 25 adjacent the end walls. As seen in FIG. 5, the cavities 77 are provided by the clearance between the inner surfaces 73 of the lugs 34, the inner surface, indicated at 78, of an inclined wall portion 79 of the pulley 25, and the outer surface 80 of the cylindrical mounting portion 31 of the roll body member 22.

The detents 72 are carried on extensions or arms 81, which extend generally longitudinally outwardly from the base portions 70 of the brush members 28 and 29. The detents 72 and arms 81 are preferably formed integrally with the base portions 70, and the thickness of the material of the arms 81 is such that the arms are resiliently flexible or deflectable. Thus, when the detents 72 are positioned in the cavities 77, the axially outer ends of the brush members 28 and 29 are prevented from engaging or rubbing on the end caps 40. If the outer ends of the brush members 28 and 29 were to rub on the end caps 40, such ends would be damaged and the life of the belt 53 would be shortened due to the increased frictional force imposed on the roll body member 22.

As previously mentioned, it may become necessary from time to time to remove and replace one or the other or both of the brush members 28 and 29. Removal and replacement of only the brush member 28 will be described since removal and replacement of the brush member 29 is effected in the same manner as the brush member 28. Thus, assuming that it is desired to remove and replace the brush member 28, the brush roll assembly is first removed from the chamber 21 by removing the cover and then disengaging the spring clips 44 from the support portions 41. Thereafter, the end cap 40 is removed by unscrewing the sleeve 42. The brush member 28 is then shifted axially outward in its groove 23 until the detent 72 engages the inner surface 73 of the lug 34. The arm 81 is of sufficient length to accommodate a small amount of axial movement of the brush member 28 in the groove 23 before the detent 72 engages the surface 73 of the lug 34.

When the detent 72 engages the inner surface 73 of the lug 34, a portion of the arm 81 is exposed. Consequently, a gap 82 (FIG. 9) occurs between the axially inner end of the brush member 28 and the adjacent end face of the lug 34. The gap 82 permits an appropriate tool, such as a small screw driver (not shown), to be inserted into the gap 82 and deflect the arm 81 radially inward as shown in FIG. 9. After the arm 81 is deflected inwardly and the detent 72 is disengaged from the inner surface 73 of the lug 34, the brush member 28 is shifted axially outwardly in its groove through the open end thereof and a similarly shaped opening 83 (FIG. 3) in the disk 67.

After the brush member 28 has been completely removed from the groove, a new brush member may be easily installed merely by inserting the new brush member into the outer end of the groove with the detent 72 of the brush member disposed toward the pulley 25, and then shifting the brush member fully into the groove. In order to eliminate the need for deflecting the arm 81 of the new brush member radially inward to permit the detent 72 to pass through the opening 76 and into the pulley cavity 77, the inner end of the detent 72 may be beveled as at 84 (FIGS. 5 and 9) to define an inclined cam surface which coacts with the axially outer corner edge, indicated at 85, in FIG. 9, to deflect the detent 72 inwardly as the brush member is shifted fully into its groove. Because of the resiliency of the material of the arm 81 the detent 72 will snap over the inner surface 73 of the lug 34 as soon as the brush member is fully inserted in its groove. The new brush member thus automatically interlocks with the pulley 25.

The brush member 29 may be removed and replaced with a new brush member in the same manner as the brush member 28, as aforesaid.

In FIGS. 10-12, inclusive, the central portion of another brush roll assembly embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 90. The brush roll assembly 90 differs from the brush roll assembly 10 only in the construction of the drive pulley 100 thereof. Consequently, only the construction of the drive pulley 100 will be hereinafter described in detail.

The pulley 100 of the brush roll assembly 90 is similar to the pulley of the brush roll assembly 10 in that the pulley 100 also utilizes a multi-part construction, namely a pair of pulley parts or halves a and 10%. When the pulley halves 1 and 10% are assembled on the roll body member 22, they engage each other along a diametrically extending common interface 101. The pulley halves 100a and 10% are also similar to the pulley halves 25a and 25b of the pulley 25 in that the former also include semicircular inner margins 102a and 102b (FIG. 13) which define a circular opening 102 in the pulley 100 having substantially the same diameter as the mounting portion 31 of the roll body member 22 when the halves 100a and 10% are engaged therewith and with each other.

The pulley 100 is also similar to the pulley 25 in that the former is likewise provided with a recess 103 in each of its opposite axial end faces, indicated at 105 and 106 in FIG. 10, for receiving portions of the roll body member 22 adjacent the mounting portion 31.

The pulley 100 also includes guide portions in the form of a pair of lugs 108 on each of the opposite axial end faces 105 and 106 thereof, the lugs 108 being extendable into the adjacent ends of the grooves 23 and 24 of the roll body member 22 when the pulley 100 is assembled thereon. The lugs 108 function in the same manner as the lugs 34 of the pulley 25, that is, they define cavities, indicated at 109, for receiving the detents 72 of the brush members 28 and 29, and retaining surfaces, indicated at 110, against which the detents 72 bear when the brush members 28 and 29 are fully engaged with the roll body member. The lugs 108 also facilitate assembly of the pulley halves 100a and 10% on the mounting portion 31 by coacting with the adjacent walls of the grooves 23 and 24 when the pulley halves 100a and 10% are being assembled around the mounting portion 31.

The pulley 100 differs from the pulley 25 in that the pulley 100 is of metal, such as aluminum die casting alloy, and the pulley halves 100a and 100b are preferably secured together by fasteners, rather than by sonic welding.

In order to provide for receiving mechanical fasteners, each pulley half 100a and 100b includes at least one and preferably a plurality of symmetrically arranged bosses adjacent the axial end faces thereof. The bosses adjacent the end face 105 of the pulley half 100a are indicated at 112a and 113a in FIGS. 11 and 13, and the adjoining bosses on the pulley half 10% are indicated at 112b and 113b, respectively. A similar set of bosses are provided on the pulley halves 100a and 10% adjacent the opposite axial end face 106 of the pulley 100. Only the bosses on the pulley half 100a corresponding to the bosses 112a and 113a are shown in FIG. 10 and indicated at 1 14a and a. The bosses on the pulley half 10% corresponding to the bosses 114a and 115a are indicated at 114b and 115b in FIG. 13.

The adjacent pairs of bosses 112a and 112b, 1130 and 113b, 114a and 114b, and 115a and 115b, are bored as at 116 to receive mechanical fasteners, such as rivets 117. Thus, after the pulley halves 100a and 1001) are assembled around the mounting portion 31, they may be secured in such position by inserting rivets 117 through the bores 116 in the bosses and upsetting the ends thereof in the usual manner. It will be understood, however, that while the pulley halves 100a and 10% are preferably initially assembled by use of the rivets 117, other fasteners could be used, such as screws. In this regard, in the event that the pulley 100 is disassembled in the field, the pulley halves 100a and 10% thereof are preferably rejoined by screws.

The pulley 100 further differs from the pulley 25, in that the cavities 109 of the former are smaller than the cavities 77 of the latter so that the detents 72 of the brush members 28 and 29 closely fit the cavities 109 when the brush members are shifted fully into their grooves 23 and 24, as shown in FIG. 12. Consequently, the brush members 28 and 29 cannot be shifted in their grooves to any appreciable extent relative to the pulley 100 once the detents 72 have snapped into the cavities 109. However, the detents 72 will disengage from the cavities 109 upon the application of sufficient force to the brush members 28 and 29 if it becomes necessary to replace one or the other or both of these members. Such force may be applied to either of the brush members 28 and 29 by inserting the blade of a screw driver, or other appropriate tool, between the adjacent end face of the strip 70 and pulley 100 and prying the brush member away from the pulley.

We claim:

1. A brush roll assembly adapted for use in a suction cleaner or the like, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove having opposite ends, at least one elongated brush member slidably mounted in said groove, a pulley secured to said body member adjacent one end of said groove, and releasable retaining means carried by said brush member and said pulley for restraining said brush member against movement in said groove away from said pulley.

2. The brush roll assembly of claim 1, further characterized in that said releasable retaining means comprises a retaining surface on said pulley, and a detent at one end of said brush member engageable with said retaining surface.

3. The brush roll assembly of claim 2, further characterized in that said pulley is hollow and has an end wall adjacent said one end of said groove, said end wall has an opening therein registering with said end of said groove, and said retaining surface comprises the inner surface of said end wall adjacent said opening.

4. The brush roll assembly of claim 3, further characterized in that said detent is carried on the end of a resilient arm extending from said one end of said brush member.

5. The brush roll assembly of claim 4, further characterized in that said detent has a beveled portion for engaging an edge of said end wall and deflecting said detent to permit the latter to be shifted through said opening into the interior of said pulley, the resiliency of said arm causing said detent to shift toward and engage said retaining surface after said detent was passed through said opening.

6. The brush roll assembly of claim 5, further characterized in that said resilient arm is of length such that a portion thereof is exposed when said detent is engaged with said retaining surface, whereby said brush member may be removed from said groove by deflecting the exposed portion of said arm sufiiciently to cause disengagement of said detent from said retaining surface so that said detent may pass through said opening as said brush member is shifted in said groove.

7. A brush roll assembly adapted to be mounted in the nozzle of a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove therein adapted to receive a replaceable brush member, and a multi-part pulley mounted on said body member and having at least one guide portion extending into said groove, said guide portion facilitating the location and mounting of the parts of said pulley on said body member during assembly of said pulley.

8. The brush roll assembly of claim 7, further characterized in that said pulley comprises a pair of generally semi-cylindrical pulley halves engageable with each other and said roll body member.

9. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that at least one boss is provided on each of said pulley halves, said bosses being adapted to receive a fastener for securing said pulley halves in engaged relation.

10. The brush roll assembly of claim 9, further characterized in that said bosses are provided adjacent an end face of said pulley.

11. The brush roll assembly of claim 10, further characterized in. that a substantially diametrically spaced pair of said bosses are provided on each of said pulley halves adjacent each end face thereof.

12. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that said pulley halves are of aluminum alloy.

13. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that said guide portion comprises an axially outwardly extending lug on at least one of said pulley halves.

14. The brush roll assembly of claim 13, further characterized in that said lug has a transverse length substantially equal to the width of said groove.

15. The brush roll assembly of claim 13, further characterized in that a plurality of said longitudinally extending grooves are provided in said roll body member for receiving a plurality of replaceable brush members, and a corresponding plurality of said lugs are provided on said pulley halves and respectively extending into said grooves.

16. The brush roll assembly of claim 7, further characterized in that said roll body member has a mounting portion for receiving the parts of said pulley, said mounting portion being disposed at one end of said groove and having a cross section different from the cross section of the portion of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion, said pulley has an end face confronting the end of said groove, and said end face has a recess having substantially the same contour as the cross section of the portion of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion, whereby engagement of said adjacent portion of said roll body member in said recess when the parts of said pulley are assembled prevents relative rotation between said roll body member and said pulley.

17. The brush roll assembly of claim 16, further characterized in that said mounting portion is circular in cross section, and said recess is generally rectangular in cross section.

18. The brush roll assembly of claim 17, further characterized in that said mounting portion is located intermediate the length of said roll body member, said pulley has opposite axial end faces, and a pair of said recesses are respectively provided in said end faces for receiving the portions of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion.

19. A brush roll assembly adapted for use with a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove therein and a pulley mounting portion thereon at one end of said groove, a multi-part pulley secured to the mounting portion of said roll body member, one of the parts of said pulley having an opening therein and a lug thereon adjacent to said opening, said lug extending into the end of said groove when the parts of said pulley are engaged with said mounting portion and being operable to orient said pulley parts on said mounting portion, an elongated brush member slidably mounted in said groove, and releasable retaining means carried by said brush member and said lug for restraining said brush member against movement in said groove away from said pulley.

20. The brush roll assembly of claim 19, further characterized in that said releasable retaining means includes a retaining surface on said lug and a detent at one end of said brush member engageable with said retaining surface.

21. The brush roll assembly of claim 20, further characterized in that said retaining surface comprises the inner surface of said lug.

22. A brush roll assembly adapted to be rotatably mounted in the suction inlet of a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member of generally rectangular cross section and having a longitudinal axis, said roll body member having a groove in at least one of the radially opposite side edges thereof and an elongated brush member removably mounted in said groove, and said roll body member being twisted about its longitudinal axis so as to be helical in form, whereby the effective profile area of said brush roll assembly is reduced.

23. The brush roll assembly of claim 22, further characterized in that said roll body member is a onepiece extrusion. 

1. A brush roll assembly adapted for use in a suction cleaner or the like, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove having opposite ends, at least one elongated brush member slidably mounted in said groove, a pulley secured to said body member adjacent one end of said groove, and releasable retaining means carried by said brush member and said pulley for restraining said brush member against movement in said groove away from said pulley.
 2. The brush roll assembly of claim 1, further characterized in that said releasable retaining means comprises a retaining surface on said pulley, and a detent at one end of said brush member engageable with said retaining surface.
 3. The brush roll assembly of claim 2, further characterized in that said pulley is hollow and has an end wall adjacent said one end of said groove, said end wall has an opening therein registering with said end of said groove, and said retaining surface comprises the inner surface of said end wall adjacent said opening.
 4. The brush roll assembly of claim 3, further characterized in that said detent is carried on the end of a resilient arm extending from said one end of said brush member.
 5. The brush roll assembly of claim 4, further characterized in that said detent has a beveled portion for engaging an edge of said end wall and deflecting said detent to permit the latter to be shifted through said opening into the interior of said pulley, the resiliency of said arm causing said detent to shift toward and engage said retaining surface after said detent was passed through said opening.
 6. The brush roll assembly of claim 5, further characterized in that said resilient arm is of length such that a portion thereof is exposed when said detent is engaged with said retaining surface, whereby said brush member may be removed from said groove by deflecting the exposed portion of said arm sufficiently to cause disengagement of said detent from said retaining surface so that said detent may pass through said opening as said brush member is shifted in said groove.
 7. A brush roll assembly adapted to be mounted in the nozzle of a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove therein adapted to receive a replaceable brush member, and a multi-part pulley mounted on said body member and having at least one guide portion extending into said groove, said guide portion facilitating the location and mounting of the parts of said pulley on said body member during assembly of said pulley.
 8. The brush roll assembly of claim 7, further characterized in that said pulley comprises a pair of generally semi-cylindrical pulley halves engageable with each other and said roll body member.
 9. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that at least one boss is provided on each of said pulley halves, said bosses being adapted to receive a fastener for securing said pulley halves in engaged relation.
 10. The brush roll assembly of claim 9, further characterized in that said bosses are provided adjacent an end face of said pulley.
 11. The brush roll assembly of claim 10, further characterized in that a substantially diametrically spaced pair of said bosses are provided on each of said pulley halves adjacent each end face thereof.
 12. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that said pulley halves are of aluminum alloy.
 13. The brush roll assembly of claim 8, further characterized in that said guide portion comprises an axially outwardly extending lug on at least one of said pulley halves.
 14. The brush roll assembly of claim 13, further characterized in that said lug has a transverse length substantially equal to the width of said groove.
 15. The brush roll assembly of claim 13, further characterized in that a plurality of said longitudinally extending grooves are provided in said roll body member for receiving a plurality of replaceable brush members, and a corresponding plurality of said lugs are provided on said pulley halves and respectively extending into said grooves.
 16. The brush roll assembly of claim 7, further characterized in that said roll body member has a mounting portion for receiving the parts of said pulley, said mounting portion being disposed at one end of said groove and having a cross section different from the cross section of the portion of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion, said pulley has an end face confronting the end of said groove, and said end face has a recess having substantially the same contour as the cross section of the portion of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion, whereby engagement of said adjacent portion of said roll body member in said recess when the Parts of said pulley are assembled prevents relative rotation between said roll body member and said pulley.
 17. The brush roll assembly of claim 16, further characterized in that said mounting portion is circular in cross section, and said recess is generally rectangular in cross section.
 18. The brush roll assembly of claim 17, further characterized in that said mounting portion is located intermediate the length of said roll body member, said pulley has opposite axial end faces, and a pair of said recesses are respectively provided in said end faces for receiving the portions of said roll body member adjacent to said mounting portion.
 19. A brush roll assembly adapted for use with a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member having at least one generally longitudinally extending groove therein and a pulley mounting portion thereon at one end of said groove, a multi-part pulley secured to the mounting portion of said roll body member, one of the parts of said pulley having an opening therein and a lug thereon adjacent to said opening, said lug extending into the end of said groove when the parts of said pulley are engaged with said mounting portion and being operable to orient said pulley parts on said mounting portion, an elongated brush member slidably mounted in said groove, and releasable retaining means carried by said brush member and said lug for restraining said brush member against movement in said groove away from said pulley.
 20. The brush roll assembly of claim 19, further characterized in that said releasable retaining means includes a retaining surface on said lug and a detent at one end of said brush member engageable with said retaining surface.
 21. The brush roll assembly of claim 20, further characterized in that said retaining surface comprises the inner surface of said lug.
 22. A brush roll assembly adapted to be rotatably mounted in the suction inlet of a suction cleaner, comprising an elongated roll body member of generally rectangular cross section and having a longitudinal axis, said roll body member having a groove in at least one of the radially opposite side edges thereof and an elongated brush member removably mounted in said groove, and said roll body member being twisted about its longitudinal axis so as to be helical in form, whereby the effective profile area of said brush roll assembly is reduced.
 23. The brush roll assembly of claim 22, further characterized in that said roll body member is a one-piece extrusion. 